Europe Tour : Germany - Day 1

For 12 hours in the plane finally I reached Amsterdam, Schipol Airport at 6.30 am. After we get our luggage, me and my GM took the train from Schipol Airport to Amsterdam Central Station then transfer to another Inter City Express (ICE) train to Dusseldorf, Germany main train station. The whole journey from Amsterdam to Dusseldorf takes about 3 hrs and 15 mins.

Before we board the train at 9.15 am, we had our breakfast at the Central Station. Bought some pastries puffs to eat in the train. This I must say its very good. It is the pastry puff with minced pork filling. Outside is crispy and inside is pipping hot. Also I had a cup of hot chocolate. Somehow, I found that the hot chocolate in western country is damn nice.

Reach Dusseldorf at about 12.30 pm and we headed on to the hotel. Had some rest about 2 hours and by 3 pm, we meet up with GS and my BIG BOSS at about 3.15 pm. Both of them took the ICE train from Frankfurt. Well this is my company policy, all big shot, cannot travel together and got to split the group into 2. We took a cab to Dusseldorf town and plan for a drink first before we had our dinner earlier.

Alamak, on our way to the town I saw the LV boutique and I feel like telling BIG BOSS can we stop at the boutique for a while and just give me 20 mins to buy the bags for sis. Aiyar... better not to say out cos only first day and I am worried that BIG BOSS, GM and GS may think, haven't start working already think of shopping !. So BYE BYE LV, and will get for sis when I am in Amsterdam on 17/10/07 again.

We start of with drinking session. Really siao, went to 3 pubs for the German Beer. Wah quite nice leh and it is so smooth. I drink quite a lot leh. After drinking we went for a walk along the riverside in Dusseldorf before we head on for dinner. Weather is just nice not too cold and I think is about 15 -18 DC.

We had our dinner at one of the restaurant that serves pork knucles and roast pork and most of it is PORK!. This dinner is so good and I just love the roast pork and the skin is so crispy.

Clockwise from top left : Roast Pork Knuckle with Risotto, Grilled Minced Pork, Pork Sausages, and Boiled Pork Knuckle. Each portion is so huge and 4 of us can't even finish it and it is not too expensive. Total bill is about EURO 58.00 and since it is under company budget, me and GS just order whatever we want to eat and not forgetting the German Beer again.

After dinner, took a cab back to hotel at about 8 pm and by 9 pm I already knock off to bed. I am just too tired and the next day is the first day at the trade fair and another long day ahead with a formal fine dining dinner hosted by Tabasco at night.

***** Germany - Day 2 coming up next *****

Fried Rice Vermicelli With Bovril

Last Saturday, I Fried Rice Vermicelli with BOVRIL for the kids lunch. I was clearing up my drawer in the office and came across some old recipe card used by my promoters to promote BOVRIL in East Malaysia back in year 2005. I am not a great fan for BOVRIL and what I always have in mind is MARMITE cos I grew up with it. Even now I gave both Le-Ann and Ee-Thern, Marmite almost everyday in their meal and both of them loves it so much.

I would like to share with you, besides from using BOVRIL in our porridge and hot drinks or soup, you can now even fried rice vermicelli with it and this is to substitute the oyster sauce, soya sauce or even dark soya sauce. Well, taste wise OK leh for me. How about you? Try it out today.

Here is the recipe.

Ingredients :
1/2 pkt of rice vermicelli, soaked in water till soft, drained
Some mustard green ( sawi ), cut into 5cm length, washed
Fish cakes, cut into small pieces
Some chopped garlic
Omelette for garnishing

Sauce Ingredients:
1 bowl of water
2 tbsp BOVRIL
1 tbsp ikan bilis/chicken granules
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt

Method :
1. Heat oil in wok. Saute garlic till fragrant. Add fish cakes and stir-fry for another 1 minute.
2. Add sawi and pile rice vermicelli on top. Add sauce ingredients. Cover wok for 10 minutes and cook over medium heat. ( do not stir )
3. Remove cover and stir-fry until well mixed. Cover wok for another 2 minutes and turn off heat. Allow noodles to stand in wok for 10 minutes before serving.
4. Dish out noodles and garnish with omelette.

My Le-Ann finished up the whole plate of fried rice vermicelli but my little Ee-Thern refused to eat at all and he only ate the fishcakes. Ah Boy, that bad meh the taste!

Bento #10 : Hainanese Chicken Rice

This is one of my lunch Bento I brought to work few weeks back. Have not been making any Bento recently reason being I am busy and hardly cook during dinner. Even if I cook it will just nice for me and Dearie Suki.

My Hainanese Chicken Rice Bento with a tub of Yoghurt for lunch. Front bento is the steamed Hainanese Chicken with Oyster Sauce and some ginger. Then on the right is the buttered garlic rice and I sprinkle some black sesame on top. Top left some salad and chinese parsley to go along with the chicken rice. Wow.... this lunch is real huge for me and it is compatible to a plate of Chicken Rice sold at the Kopitiam !

My Bento Boxes all set to go into the Bento Bag and all of these Bentos come in a complete set plus a matching Bento Strap. Also not forgetting to pack in the yoghurt for lunch. A wonderful lunch in the office with a wonderful Bento.

Tiramisu For Dad's Birthday

Dad's Chinese Birthday falls on tomorrow ( in chinese calendar 29th August ). We celebrated for him in Ah Mah's house yesterday since we have a stemboat 'makan' feast again to entertain one of my uncle from China.

Tiramisu came to my mind when I saw Wan blogged about her Tiramisu. Searched throught the web and most of the recipes required raw eggs in it and I am not so comfortable with egg in a cake which is not cook. End up I used Wan's recipe to make a Tiramisu Birthday Cake for my Dad.

I don't quite like Tiramisu thought but since Phatboy Joe and V told me they like Tiramisu that is why Tiramisu came into my mind. But it is not that cheap to buy the ingredients. Just the mascarpone cheese cost about RM17.90 per tub.

Tadaa.........

My Lovely Tiramisu Cake for Dad.

V saw the cake in the fridge and I told her I make it and she don't believe me and start asking me am I serious. Off course, I told her it is really make by me and I told her got pictures to prove that it is make by me. Even dad also asked the same question after his cake cutting session ' You make that cake ah'..... 'Yes la, Pa, I make one leh'

Hihihi... I think I can start taking order for my Tiramisu d. Hahaha... again my cake finished within 20 minutes and left 2 last pieces and Aunty Ah Choo 'tapau' for her son and DIL.

Little girl missed the cake cutting session cos she fall asleep and its rain heavily that afternoon and weather is a bit cold and windy. When she woke up, she kept crying that she want to cut the cake with 'KungKung'. What to do girl, who asked you don't want to sleep earlier with 'Didi'!

Kids, Lets Have Breakfast

Dearie Suki always wanted me to prepare breakfast for the kids at home but for me, I still prefer to eat with the kids at the Kopitiam and enjoy my cup of 'Kopi O'. You know why Dearie Suki want to eat at home ? .... So that he don't need to wake up so early and send us out to the Kopitiam.

Last Saturday makes some French Toast for the kids and fried some ham and bacon too for their breakfast. Dearie Suki loves french toast and me as well. It is easy to prepare too, you will need eggs, some milk, sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Coat the bread with egg mixture and pan fried in a non-stick pan with some oil till golden brown. Easy right ?

Yummy, french toast for the whole family.

This breakfast for the Big Baby at home who are still sleeping soundly in bed, Zzzzz. He woke up at 12 pm to have his breakfast! Did you realize the bread got one hole in the middle. It is actually a gingerbread man, I cut out with a cookie cutter for the kids. Balance of the unused egg mixture I pour into the whole and fried it under slow fire till the egg set.

This are for the kids. Cut the french toast with a gingerbread man cookie cutter. Some rolled ham and secure it with cute animal toothpicks and each of them have a bottle of Yakult.

Both Le-Ann and Ee-Thern before they have their breakfast they finished up their Yakult. So fast ah and I don't even know they have finished it until I came out from the kitchen. Little girl is a real meat eater, only attack the ham and pass the french toast to his brother.

Little boy, also another meat eater and he loves the ham so much. I think I got to quit my habit of going out to the Kopitiam for breakfast and have to prepare more breakfast for the kids and Dearie Suki during weekend looking at the way three of them enjoy the breakfast I prepare for them.

Getting Simpler

I am getting better today and not going to think so much cos it is just wasting time. Thank you to all my blogger friends for their concern and encouragement. Perhaps Dearie Suki was telling me, make a decision next year after bonus and look for a better opportunities in other better company with a better pay and a better environment. Its true also and I am not going to sit in that nutshell till I retire. 5 years is more than enough for me I think and I just get so pissed up working with her ( I hope u know who I am referring too).

Yesterday night and tonight didn't cook and Dearie Suki bought dinner back. I am getting simpler with my cooking nowadays and with just 2 person, can't really cook much. Last 2 days, I cook Seafood Curry for dinner and off course using my favourite Maggi Fish Curry Paste.

Added in a fish head , prawns, taufoo pok, onion, tomatoes and ladies fingers into the curry. One whole big pot of curry for dinner and we can't even finish half of it. End up kept in the fridge for the next day.

ReenReen gave me some samples of S&P Coconut Milk and I've added in 1 packet of it into the curry. Sorry to say the coconut milk is so diluted and there is not coconut aroma. Dearie Suki was complaining that the curry is tasteless and doesn't taste good cos usually I will add in a can of evaporated milk. I added in another packet of coconut milk into it and it still taste the same. The next round I will use back evaporated milk for all my curry. Yeah, he is right the whole pot of curry doesn't taste that good as per my pervious cooking using evaporated milk. Hence, this brand is not recommended. ReenReen also gave me some coconut milk in powder form and I am going to try that again in my other cooking.

I blanched some rice vermicelli to go along with the curry. That night we have Seafood Curry Meehoon for dinner.

Bak Kut Teh

Yesterday we had Bak Kut Teh, one of my Dearie Suki favourite. Nowadays without the maid, I have opted for a more simpler cooking and most of all preferably those can cook all in a pot. Reen Reen, dropped by my office few weeks back and gave me some product samples she get from her ex-company.

The XIFU brand, Bak Kut Teh Soup Seasoning comes with 2 soup bags in a packet but I only used 1 pack yesterday night. Besides from Bak Kut Teh, they also have other SKUs which is the Emperor Chicken Seasoning Mix, and I have yet to try it out. Will try it out some other day.

1 packet of Bak Kut Teh seasoning bag and approximately 1.5 litres of water, I slow boiled it in a slow cooker for about 4 hours. Added in some pork ribs, a piece of pork belly, 1 whole garlic with skin, some taufoo pok and lastly Enoki mushroom into the Bak Kut Teh. I've also added in few tablespoon of Kikkoman Soya Sauce and about 1 tbsp of oyster sauce to taste.

I was having lunch with my colleagues at the Subang wet market and passed by Asia Cafe and coincidentally saw a stall selling Yaw Char Kwai ( Fried Curlers ), and quickly get AN to stop by and I go down to buy the Yaw Char Kwai.

I think the Bak Kut Teh is not too bad and almost similar to the stall selling outside but my Dearie Suki was complaining not kick enough. Off course leh my Dear, those selling outside added in so much MSG what do you expect !

Another Surprise From Hubby

Last Friday after I came back from JB, Dearie Suki picked me up at the UPM rest area. In the car the told me he got something for me. Huh... I also blur blur what is he trying to say to me. Then ...ta da.... he took out a small black casing and pass it to me and say "Nah, for you".

To my surprised, hooray, yahoo,... he got me a new CANON Ixus 70 digital camera a very much smaller version almost doubled the smaller size from my current old junk SONY Cyber Shot. I've been talking and asking his opinion that at the end of the year I am going to use part of my bonus to get myself either a new camera or a handphone and after much consideration I think its better to get smaller version of camera instead of handphone. I am not those 'canggih' person who opt for 'canggih' handphone as long as I can call out and SMS will do.

My Dearie Suki is quite a sensitive person and that is why he always give me surprises. I asked him how much is the camera and he told me RM1000 plus. Wah, so expensive one ah, he must be crazy man. Then he start telling me he pity me cos always carry the old junk around some more so bulky and heavy. Hahaha... atleast he understand me.

MY NEW CANON IXUS 70

Thickness of the size is only 1.2cm and its 7.1 Mega Pixels. Wah so light and small.

BYE BYE SONY CYBER SHOT

My old junk will always remember it and this camera has a sentimental value to me. Its the first camera my Dearie Suki bought for me during our wedding day. So I will keep it.

My Dearie Suki friend, PK, MSN me yesterday night and this afternoon asking me how is the camera cos he is having the same model too and apparently he recommended this model to my Dearie Suki. So, PK if you are reading my blog, I have yet to explore the function and must slowly, slowly see through and try to snap some shots.

Brought back the camera to Ah Mah's house last Sunday and show off to Phatboy Joe and V. Both of them test out the function of the camera and taken some photos of the kids with the camera. Result is not too bad and quite a clear shot of the following pictures.

Kids riding bicycles outside Ah Mah's house and even my Ee-Thern dare to sit at the back of the big bicycle and let Faye Ah Yi fetch him. Look at them its like CITY KIDS out from JAIL.

Phatboy Joe is always the kids favourite 'Kau Fu'.

To my Dearie Suki - Thank you so much and most of all LOVE YOU SO MUCH for giving me more and more surprises. So my next target item is to change my old junk - handphone. Hahaha...will this another surprises from him ?

4 Hours Out With Sis

Yesterday I had very bad headache, bodyache, here pain there pain end up go and see doctor and found out I got a very bad red throat. Hahaha... doctor gave me MC to rest at home. After sending the kids to the babysitter house called Sis and asked her where is she and asked her again whether want to go back Ah Mah's house or not. She told me she wanted to got facial after her piano class but not even 1 minute she called back and said she can cancel her facial. Hahaha... knowing her 'kaki jalan' end up I told her lets go buy 'Warm Clothing' for my coming trip.

We meet up in MV at about 1 pm and we went to Jusco to 'tah pau' the sushi for lunch to save up the time eating in a restaurant cos she got another piano class at 5pm. Sis belanja me since she is now OKK ( orang kaya-kaya) d :) We had assorted sushi, popcorn chicken, fried calamari rings, teriyaki chicken and fried vegetables tempura for lunch. Both of us eat at the bench outside Jusco... hahaha...

After makan we start hunting for the shop selling winter clothings. Finally found Winter Travellers but alamak all exceed the budget my STP gave me. The one I like cost RM899 and I only have RM500 to spend. End up search again in Elle Boutique saw one long wool jacket with some fur on the collar cost RM299. I told Sis a bit too cheap leh, must utilize the RM500 'kau-kau'. End up walk over to Robinsons at The Garden the newly opened shopping mall opposite MV. Wah.., more worst cannot find at all. Aiyor my STP asked me to buy from Winter Travellers with RM500 where got enough. The one which is within the budget all so 'lou tou' and I will never want to wear that.

Walked back again to MV and Sis told me lets go to ZARA. Hihihi... guess what I found?

This 3 quarter long jacket with 50% wool and come with a removeable hood. Just within my budget and cost RM449. I like the brown colour but they only have one last piece and the zip infront is broken. End up got to choose this black colour jacket and quickly 'sapu' this last piece of jacket and still left RM51 from my budget. Should I utilize it ? Well, better not scared my STP taruk me kau kau. Anyway can't find a scarf with RM51, lets forget about it.

After 'yam char' with Sis at Kim Gary, we went back and I reached home at about 5 pm and continue my sleep after eating the medicines. Woke up at 6.30 pm and head on to pick up the kids at the babysitter house. My mission completed. Tomorrow got to go back to office again and prepare all the reports, orders, business review presentation to be presented to my UL principal in Germany. Sigh....Another busy week ahead, how I wish I don't need to work and finish paying off my house installment like Sis.

Ayam Golek With Cereal Cream

Do you have any idea what is Cereal Cream? This is the first time I heard off after my BIG BOSS pass me a packet and asked me to try out at home. Ish...ask me to become their guinea pig again.

This Cereal Cream off course is made of cereal and it is actually invented for coconut cream substitute. Have not seen any in Malaysia and this product is from Bangkok, Thailand. The brand name is '4 Care' and on the packet the USP ( unique selling point ) is stated dairy free, high in vitamin E, no sugar and no cholesterol. How does it look like and taste like? Well, it look like milk and tasteless and has some cereal aroma. It is a bit watery unlike coconut milk which is creamy.

Cook Ayam Golek and substitude the coconut milk with the cereal cream. Here is the recipe.

Ingredients :
1 whole chicken ( approximately 1 kg )
1 tbsp salt ( to rub on chicken )
1 cup tamarind juice from 2 tbsp tamarind paste
1 packet cereal cream
Salt and sugar to taste

Grinded Ingredients:
20 dried chillies, soak and seeded
10 shallots
2 stalks lemon grass
1 knob ginger ( about 2 cm )
1 knob turmeric ( about 2 cm )

Method :
1. Heat oil in pan. Fry grounded ingredients till fragrant. Then add in the cereal cream and tamarind juice. Let it simmer till the gravy thicken. Season with salt and sugar. If you prefer sweet base you got to add more sugar.
2.Marinade the chicken with salt. Then marinade the chicken with the gravy, preferably overnight.
3. Arrange chicken on a baking tray and grill for about 30 minutes. Then spoon the gravy over the chicken and continue to grill another 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked.
4. Chopped into small pieces and serve immediately.

End result, not too bad but still cannot compare with nice aroma of coconut milk. The redness of the colour in the gravy is there. My BIG BOSS asking me whether this product can bring in and sell ah? In my opinion, for those people who are real health conscious freak, they might buy this concept. Asking me whether I will buy or not, I will say YES cos I am trying to be more health conscious nowadays ( takut mati early ). Even my Dearie Suki also didn't complaint much about it and he enjoyed the Ayam Golek so much.